Why actor Jason Segel started to write all his own parts

Jason Segel says that
writing has allowed him to get better acting roles in
Hollywood.Michael Priest
Photography

Despite being canceled after just one season, "Freaks and Geeks"
went on to have an enduring legacy while introducing a cast who
would go on to be incredibly successful in the near future.

But it took time.

Jason Segel broke out on "Freaks and Geeks" as Nick Andopolis, a
sweet and goofy, but misguided member of the freaks who dreams of
being a professional drummer.

After the show was cancelled in 2000, Segel was in his early 20s
and struggled to find work for a few years. "Freaks and Geeks"
was such a rewarding experience to Segel that it almost
spoiled him, as he thought he would just easily move "onto the
next groundbreaking show."

Segel couldn't find acting work for a while after
"Freaks and Geeks" was canceled.NBC
via Netflix

"I spent three years out of work. And that's when I
started writing." Segel told the crowd.

The decision to start writing stemmed from some good advice from
"Freaks and Geeks" executive producer Judd Apatow.

"Judd came to me and said, 'Listen, you're a weird guy. You
need to write your own material. And that was the best advice I
ever got, the Albert Brooks model of 'If you want to do a certain
thing, you better make it happen.'" Segel said.

When he first met with the producers of "The End of the
Tour," they asked him why he started writing. He summed it up in
a more succinct way: "No one's knocking on my door
asking me to play Captain America."

Segel wrote the very
personal "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" for
himself.Universal via
YouTube

Segel took Apatow's advice to heart.

The first script he ever wrote was "Nightmares!" which
never became a movie, but it did become a
highly successful horror book for kids. His second
screenplay, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," was made into a movie in
2008. The R-rated romantic comedy was a hit, grossing
$105.2 million worldwide. Most importantly, the fact he wrote
the screenplay gave him the freedom to create a comedy that
showed a more personal side of himself than people might have
been used to on, say, "How I Met Your Mother."

Segel wrote and starred in "The Muppets" in 2011. He is
a lifelong Muppets fan.Disney via
YouTube

Plus, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" ends with a charming and
elaborate Dracula musical starring a bunch of puppets, which is
not typically the way most romantic comedies end. This eventually
led to Segel receiving more creative clout in Hollywood
and then getting to make one of his dreams come true: Bringing
the Muppets back to the big screen. Segel wrote and starred in
"The Muppets", which came out in 2011.

So while Segel might never be aksed by Marvel to play
Captain America, he can at least say he got to sing alongside
Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog.